Christian Living
The devil comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. He is not your friend, but he pretends that he is, he will do whatever it takes to keep you from God.
When we were in the world we belongs to Satan for he is the Prince of this world so where the spiritual warfare comes in; is where Satan wants us back to our old lifestyle. When we came over to Christ the war started and it is between you and Satan and not between Satan and God.
As long as we are in this world, which belongs to, Satan there will always be false teachers. The question again is, how do we know who's telling the truth and who is lying to us? We must carefully submit to a new teaching searching the Scriptures for its accuracy in God's word.
As Christians we should measure what we are taught against the infallible word of God, which is able to make you wise for salvation through faith and Jesus Christ's. Failure to search the Scriptures for any error may make us vulnerable to false teaching. They are some Christians who have not carefully examined their beliefs and consequently except every new opinion and follow uncritically the guidance of every new teacher. As Christians we must carefully weigh and examine what people tell us.
How can you tell a false prophet, false teacher and even a false Christ? I don't think we could with our own human understanding. According to the word of God we are to test all teaching. But how do you know or how do you expose those that are faults?
Scriptures teach that Satan and his kingdom have little power over Christians. Therefore the only way he has to attack us is by using false doctrine, In order to confuse us. We must be prepared in every aspect of our spiritual battle; for our enemy, the devil. The primary place of attack by Satan is in the mind and thought life.
The devil our enemy has different functions and he has an army with organized opposition to the world and especially to Christians. We can be tempted, oppressed and harassed and even afflicted by the enemy but, we cannot be controlled. We do have the authority and the strength to resist the devil's temptations and lies by submitting to God, standing in Christ, and putting on Christ’s armor.
2 Timothy 3:12-14 (NKJV)
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
If you stand for the absolute Truth of the Gospel, then you are going to come into conflict with the Devil; Spiritual Warfare, which is against the supernatural forces of evil. Spiritual warfare is a reality of the Christian life. But remember, we know the ending; the Devil has already been defeated.
Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
So many Christians have become passive and fearful. We are satisfied just to attend church services and activities each week. This type of lifestyle is quite different from that which Jesus has called us for. Like the apostles (Lk 9:1-2) and the seventy (Lk 10) who were told by Jesus to go out and preach and teach about the kingdom of God, and he also said they were to heal the sick and set the captives free.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
We must always be alert to the activity of the enemy. This alertness is by no means fear or paranoia. We must not go around crediting Satan and his hosts for everything wrong under the sun. The Apostle Paul was a good example of a Christian soldier. He didn't go out of his way to look for demonic activity, but when he encountered it, he quickly recognized it and then he confronted it with spiritual authority victoriously.
A soldier knows he must bring discipline to his thought life and to his actions. He knows he must conquer fear or paranoia, because If we allow these areas to be compromised, he will not be effective in resisting the enemy. WE must take sin very seriously, because we know that sin always gives the Devil an advantage. We must always be on guard against comparing ourselves with others and being entrapped by the subtlety of religious pride.
A soldier knows that he can do nothing that is affective in his own strength. For his strength comes in unity; our strength, authority, wisdom and discernment are dependent upon our close walk with the Lord. We should always remain focused and guard ourselves against distraction caused by problems and troubles that appear. These are designed to get our eyes off the Lord and lure us into working in the flesh. The devil will come at us at our weakest times.
Our Commitment to Spiritual Warfare Means:
1. A New Attitude - You begin to think like an overcomer with a victorious attitude. You walk according to your inheritance of grace in Christ. You no longer have an attitude of playing it safe or seeking not to rock the boat. You realize you want to be on the front lines for God, not trying to live the comfortable life with as few problems as possible.
2. A Greater Focus - You carefully guard against the attempts to distract you or to push your buttons. You recognize that the enemy likes to entangle God's people in the cares of this world or provoke us to react in the flesh. You understand the importance of keeping your eyes on the Lord and standing in faith upon God's character, not in your abilities.
3. A Necessary Discipline - You have begun to discipline yourself on all levels. You are setting more time aside for study and prayer. You are spending more time being alert and obedient to the leading of the Spirit.
4. A More Balanced Biblical World View - You take very seriously the Biblical warnings to God's people about an enemy that is real.
When anybody mentions warfare we immediately think of casualties and fierce fighting but, just because you don't see the spiritual warfare going on with our enemy the devil, don’t mean it's not there. We must be trained in spiritual warfare. The devil has limited resources; he attacks us at our weakness. So we must be trained in God's word if we are to overcome the flaming arrows to the enemy shoots at us.
The devil comes and attacks our pride. So isn’t part of the job of a soldier to defending against attack? If so, then doesn’t this bring them into conflict; and wouldn’t this mean that they would have no choice but to fight? Yes
When you join an Army you must be trained. Did you know that it took five years to train a Roman soldier? He was trained to act on a commandment, and not on reaction. It took a lot of nerve to just stand there and see your enemy coming at you. It took a lot of discipline to wait on your commander for the proper orders to fight. It took a lot of discipline on the part of the soldiers to stand their ground.
Roman soldiers were fighting men, first and foremost. Constant and rigorous training kept them at peak conditions, and ready for action at any time. It comes as no great surprise to most, that the finest army in the world insisted much on training its soldiers.
In the Roman mind the legionary was a tool, a machine. Though it possessed dignity and honour, it abandoned its will to its commander. It ate and drank only in order to function. It required no pleasure. It was a fighting machine.
This machine would feel nothing and flinch from nothing. The Roman Army was considered the most advanced of its time. The Roman Army developed fighting techniques that were linked to a ferocious training regime. All new recruits to the army became very fit and disciplined. They were able to strike terror in the enemy and had the greatest advantage over them.
A soldier's training in the Roman army required not only bravery and strength but also coordination, cunning and intelligence. Being in the Roman army was a big commitment and training was a constant part of a soldier's life.
As soldiers in the Lord's army we must also train to be the best the Lord can use. Our training is in reading the word, being in the word, and doing the work that Christ has laid out for us.
We must be like the Roman army, in that it abandoned its will to his commander. We as Christian soldiers must abandon our will to our commander in chief Christ our Lord. We should not do anything until order to by the Holy Spirit.
Being a soldier for Christ is a commitment and training is a constant part of a soldier's life. Therefore we need to grow spiritually on a daily basis by staying in the word. We must learn to stand our ground and don't make a decision until order. To be filled with the word of God is actually a command.
As Christians, are we properly prepared for real battle
You didn't want to wake up in the middle of a war in which you are a fighting soldier and miss the line separating good and evil.
God gives us the best equipment for spiritual warfare but you must learn to USE YOUR WEAPONS
The Blood of Jesus—Heb 9:12, I peter 1:18, 19; I John 1:7; Rev 12:11
The Name of Jesus—Pr. 18:10; Matt 18:20; John 14:12-14; Col 3:17
The Word/Truth—Ps. 119:105-106; John 8:32; 2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16-17; Heb. 4:12
Praying in the Spirit—Rom 8:26; 1Cor 14, 15; Eph 6:18; Jude20, 21
Praise and Worship—2Chron 20:21-22; Ps 32:7; 149:6-9; Acts 16:25-26
Love 1 John 4:18
To be filled with the word of God is actually a command: you must keep being filled, just like a lake is constantly being filled by a flowing stream. God is our flowing stream of living water. Just as the lake does nothing but make itself available to the stream, it becomes filled, so as we make ourselves available to God, so that He can fill us with His word.
Keep God’s Word by paying attention to it, treasuring it in your heart. And especially doing what it says.
Some tactics that we must use
1. Binding of the enemy—Matt 18:18-20; Phil 4:7; 2 Thess 3:3
Used legislatively “to bind” meant to forbid something, “to loose” meant to permit.
2. Ask the Lord to reveal the enemy’s tactics and for those tactics to come to nothing.
3. Come against unworthiness, intimidation, mind control, religious spirit, pride, fear, doubt, confusion, distraction, fatigue.
Obey God:
Read the Word of God; the Bible. The Bible consists of God's words and instructions. It also consists of God's expectations for us. Learning of God by reading God's word will help you to know how to obey God.
Remember it is our love for God that would want to make us want to obey him. God does not force us to obey him, but we must fear the consequence of disobeying God. Because of the consequence of disobeying could lead you to hell.
2 Thessalonians 1:5-9 ( NKJV )
which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
If we are trying to obey God, then we would obey the things that He has told us to do. Thus, the word of God:
2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
2 Peter 1:20-21 ( NKJV )
knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Summary
I. Put on the whole armor each day. (Eph. 6:11-18) This is done by reading the word and knowing Christ and applying His teachings. When we stand in Christ we are victorious. He fights for us as we are steadfast in him.
2. be sober and vigilant against Satan and his wiles. (2 Peter 5:8-9) Be aware of the enemy and his attacks as well as distractions.
3. Give Satan no place. (Eph. 4:27; James 4:7) fight his temptations as soon as they are discovered in thought. Know Satan's devices, his schemes and goal to deceive. (2 Cor. 2:11) Avoid areas you know you are weak in; train yourself to concentrate on Christ and his word.
4. We Overcome Satan by standing on the word of God and in the Spirits power who strengthens our weaknesses. (Matt.1:11; I Jn. 2:14)
5. We Overcome Satan by the blood of Jesus and our testimony. (Rev. 12:11) We cannot be removed if we hold onto Christ by faith. Be assured of what took place in your life, as well as Christ’s promise to cleanse.
6. We Overcome Satan in the name of Jesus Christ and his merits. (Eph. 2:20-22) Our position in Christ brings us the victory.
7. Watch and pray that you do not enter into temptation. (Mt. 28:41; Mt. 6:13) We are to walk circumspectly knowing the evil around us that can influence and affect our spiritual life.
8. Know your position in Christ; don’t go on experiences for your spiritual walk. Walk by what he has said not by what he has not said.
You have full authority
Seek God--Know God’s Word
Psalms 119:11 (NKJV)
Your word I have hidden in my heart That I might not sin against You.
Psalms 119:105 (NKJV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
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